Gierowski attempts to halt WSiP sale over unpaid debts

Leading stock market investor Hubert Gierowski is attempting to block the privatization of Poland's largest educational books publisher, Wydawnictwa Szkolne i Pedagogiczne (WSiP). Gierowski, who owns the premises where WSiP has offices, claims that the publisher owes him money, and if the sale goes ahead he may never be paid. Gierowski has now taken the matter to court, demanding that the Treasury's zl.334.5 million sale of WSiP to Konsorcjum PTE-Nasza Ksiegarnia be canceled. Reacting to Gierowski's move, PTE-Nasza Ksiegarnia representative Wojciech Bagan said, "I'm totally surprised. I don't know anything about a suit being filed and it's difficult to take a stand here. All I know is that the Treasury has secured the transaction in the event of possible claims from Gierowski." Gierowski declined to comment. (Puls Biznesu, p. 8) A.Z.